Conduit



M. MEEHAN.

(No Model.)

GONDUIT.

Patented June 19, 1888.

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distr ct) STATES PATENT OFFICE,

MICHAEL lilEEI-TAN, OF BOSTON, MASYSACHUSETTS.

EPEQIFI JATIGEE forming part of Letters Patent No. 3841-360, dated June19. 1888.

Application filed June 18, 1857'.

To aZZ whom it may 0075067721.

Be it known that I, hlIClIAEL Mercury, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Conduits, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and. exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inexplaining its nature.

The object of the invention is to provide a conduit especial adapted forfnrnishii'ig support and rin to pipes for supplying steam or superheatedater, electric light,telephone and telegraph cables, gas pipe, &c. Theconduit is made, preferably, in two longitudinal parts or sections, oneof which aets as a supper-tier he steam or hot water pipes, and theother of which acts as a cover, and they are made, preferably, ofsandand cement tainped in SlllttlblOlllOlClS and carbonized.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in per spective of my improvedconduit. Fig. 2 is view in section thereof. Fig. 3 is a view inperspective of the pipe rest or support. Fig. i is a view in sectionwith the pipe rest and support and pipes in position therein. Fig. 5 isaview in section representing in the cavity of the conduit, in. additionto the pipes, a box for holding electric conductors. Fig. 6 is a view inperspective to which reference is hereinafter made. Fig. 7 is a detailview.

Referring to the drawings, A is the conduit. a is the lower section. Itpreferably is made with the flat or substantially flat base a, the sidesa gradually decreasing in thickness they rise from the base, and thecurved inner surface, a, and the upper surface of each side a has asection, a, of a joint, which preferably is shaped as represented inFig. i. The other section. or cover, (f', is of substantially the samethickness throughout, and is curved from its upper line or section, a,downwardly, as represented in Fig. 1, and thelowersurface of each edgehas asectioinn of the jointwhich matches with the sections of the jointon the sides. The cavity .3 of the conduit is prefer ably of a size tocarry two large iron supplypipes, C U, (see Fi 1,) and also anydesirable number of electric conductors or cables.

The pipes G preferably are supported in Serial No. r'ZiLGU-i. (Xemodel.)

the cavitygso to besurrounded by air upon all sides, or practically onall sides, and I employ for holding them in this position inthe cavity,as well as to keep them separated from each other, the support or centerpieces, 0, which are placed in the basesection of the conduit atconvenient distances apart. These supports or center pieces are curvedupon their under surface, 0, to fit the curved upper surface, a of thebase, and they have in their upper surfaces curved pipeholding recessesc 0'. (See *igs. l and 3.) These center pieces or supports also act tohold the steam or water pipes in the conduit cavity above the bottom ofthe conduit or out of reach of any water which may enter the cavity orbe formed therein by condensation; and in order that the supports orcenter pieces, 8, may not act as a barrier to the escape of water fromthe conduitcavity, I have formed therein holes or passages 0, one ofwhich is arranged at the very lowest point of the support or centerpiecc,auother of which is formed above the first, and others of whichare formed in the surfaces c c for the support of the pipes G G. I wouldhere remark that I do not confine myself to this especial form ofsupport or center piece, but prefer to use one having the essentialelements of the one described-th is,one having a firm base adapted tomaintain the pipe or pipes substantially centrally in the conduit-cavityand constructed to permit the flow of water along the bottom of theconduitcavity.

represents the cables of a number of electric conductor". They may belocated in the passages d in a covered box, d, also made of carbonizedcement and sand and placed upon the pipes, or they may be laid in anyother convenient part of the pipe.

It will be desirable in certain instances to drain the soil in which theconduit is laid, and for this purpose I use the form of conduitrepresented in Fig. 1-that is, a conduit having in the base the drainpassages or cavities E. (See Fig. 1.) .Vhen the d tun-passages E are notused in laying the conduit, I prefer that the ends be joined together bythe lapping of a shoulder upon one into a recess formed in the other, asrepresented in Fig. 7, and to arrange the covers so as to break joints,and to seal the joints by cement or othersuitable material. When theconduits have the drain passages E, substantially the same constructionis utilized for joining the sections, with the exception that the sealedjoint does not extend below the upper line of the drain-holes, so thatthere is left below this seamed joint an opening from the sides oftheconduit through which water may enter the drain-passages and escape fromthe soil immediately about the conduit. ThisconstructionisrepresentedinFigs.1and 7.

In making the conduit I prefer to follow substantially the processdescribed in the George Richardson patent application Serial No.240,595, filed June 8, 1887-that is, each section is built up in moldsof cement and sand by tamping and is afterward carbonized. This makes avery strong, durable, and accurately made conduit.

Of course I would not be understood as limiting myself to thisparticular material, so far as the broad features of the invention areconcerned, although I deem it the best for ordinary purposes.

The advantages of the invention arise from the comparative cheapness ofthe conduit itself and the laying of the same; also, because it providesa solid and substantial air-tight covering from the hot-water or steampipes contained therein; also, because it provides means for thecirculation of air about said pipes, which air acts as ajacket forpreventing the escape of heat through the conduit and condensation onthe outer surface of the pipe; also, in the construction of the conduitand the location of the steam and hot-water pipes, whereby the conduitacts to drain or carry off the water of condensation, or whichmay-otherwise enter the same, without bringing it in contact with saidpipes.

It will be seen that the top section may be easily removed and the pipeexposed for tap.- ping, repair, or inspection; also, that the pipe maybe laid on the earth, concrete, ora plank, and the clamps may be putaround the conduit and substructed and fastened by a proper device toresist pressure from any point, if found necessary.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States- 1. The combination, with amolded conduit, of the pipe-supports 0, having concave recesses 0'0,with drainage-openings c in said recesses, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a molded conduit, of the pipe-supports 0,having concave recesses c 0 with drainage openings 0 in said recessesand also below the same, substantially as set forth.

3. The conduit having the cavityB for containing hot-water or steampipes, electric conductors, &c;, and also provided with one or moredrain-passages, E, as and for the purposes specified.

MICHAEL MEEHAN.

In presence of F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, J. M. DOLAN.

